After a dozen years alongside Lucas Cruz, Carlos Sainz has swapped his long-time co-driver for a new voice in the right seat. The pairing for the moment is Dani Oliveras, a Catalan navigator who has previously worked with Nani Roma, Gerard Farrés and Juan Cruz Yacopini. This week the two begin a new chapter together at the Rally de Portugal.

New pairing, same aim

Sainz is clear about what this weekend is for: a fresh start and a first chance to build rhythm. He explains that Portugal will feel more like a rally event than a navigation-heavy rally-raid, so it is a useful low-risk way to begin working as a team. His practical goal is simple: finish the rally without problems and, if possible, fight for the win.

Dani Oliveras admits the job carries big responsibility and sees it as a major opportunity to keep growing in this discipline. He said he is grateful to be chosen and that working with Sainz is an important step in his career. Note: the official prologue is reserved for motorcycles, and the car stages start the next day.

Rally with a Spanish detour

The Rally de Portugal runs from March 17 to 22, 2026 and is the second round of the W2RC. For three of its five stages the route crosses into Spain, with Badajoz hosting the service camp after stages two and three. The special stages are mostly on tracks, navigation is not the main challenge, and recent rain has added an unwelcome guest: water and mud. Organizers shortened parts of the route and warned crews to stay on the tracks to reduce unnecessary risk.

Event schedule

  • Tuesday 17 March - Prologue FIM (Grandola-Grandola, 5 km)
  • Wednesday 18 March - Stage 1 (Grandola-Grandola, 180 km)
  • Thursday 19 March - Stage 2 (Grandola-Badajoz, 377 km)
  • Friday 20 March - Stage 3 (Badajoz-Badajoz, 296 km)
  • Saturday 21 March - Stage 4 (Badajoz-Loulé, 315 km)
  • Sunday 22 March - Stage 5 (Loulé-Loulé, 101 km)

Spanish hopes and notable entries

The Sainz and Oliveras pairing will be the clearest Spanish bid for victory. Other Spanish names to watch include Laia Sanz in her Ebro, who could aim for the top 10, and Luis Recuenco driving a Toyota in the top class.

In the other categories, Oriol Vidal will defend his Stock class status after winning the Dakar alongside Rokas Baciuska, and Pau Navarro and Jan Rosa look to keep their lead in Challenger. On the motorcycle side Tosha Schareina and Edgar Canet arrive as strong contenders. Lorenzo Santolino is absent while still recovering from Dakar injuries.

Al-Attiyah and the wider picture

Nasser Al-Attiyah, Dakar winner and current W2RC leader, is the driver to beat. He won this event two seasons ago. Last year the rally went to Lucas Moraes, one of Al-Attiyah's Dacia teammates. This season the Dacia trio including Sebastien Loeb face extra pressure because Dacia will not enter the Dakar 2027 and drivers will need to secure new programs.

Al-Attiyah also benefits from the absence of Nani Roma in this round. Ford decided not to enter Roma and instead fields Mattias Ekström alongside Carlos Sainz. Toyota arrives with a full roster that includes Yazeed Al-Rajhi, Henk Lategan, Ernesto Quintero and local competitor Joao Ferreira, all capable of taking stage wins.

There will also be more evolved GR Hilux DKR entries. Debutant Akira Miura will run with Spanish co-driver Armand Monelón. Other drivers with the updated Toyota machines include Joao Ferreira, Guy Botterill with co-driver Oriol Mena, Saood Variawa and Hernán Garcés.

Portugal is not a full navigation exam, but it is a practical first test for the new Sainz and Oliveras partnership. Expect the team to focus on clean runs, learning each other, and trying to show pace when it counts.